Apparatus for impressing transfer designs upon pottery blanks



Feb. 9,1954 w. A. BARKER 2,668,384

- APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRANSFER DESIGNS .UPON POTTERY BLANKS FiledAug. 5, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet l [0 Inventor Ml Zz'czm A B qrker Feb. 9,1954 w, BARKER 2,668,384

APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRANSFER DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLANKS Filed Aug.5, 1950 l 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Inventor William A.Bar/ er Feb. 9, 1954 wBARKER 2,668,384

. APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRANSFER DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLANKS 15Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 5. 1950 r m M 6, mm M |.Wf/ bar/ Feb. 9, 1954w BARKER 2,668,384 APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRANSFER v DESIGNS UPONPOTTERY BLANKS Filed Aug. 5, 1950 l5 Sweets- Sheet 4 Inventor By 's A ey1- T William A.Ba .r1 er Feb. 9, 1954 w. A. BARKER 2,668,384

APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRANSFER DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLANKS Filed Aug.5, 1950 16 She ets-Sheet 5 1954 w. A. BARKER 2,668,384

APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRANSFER DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLANKS Filed Aug.5, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 [nvenzo'r 'Fb. 9, 1954 w BARKER 2,668,384APPARATUS FOR 'IMPRESSING TRANSFER v DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLANKS FiledAug. 5, 1950 l5 Sheets-Sheet 7 m q w 22 :nnnnnnnn\ w 228 2 I Mlliam A.Barker Feb. 9, 1954 w, BARKER 2,668,384

APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRANSFER DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLANKS Filed Aug.5, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 352, l & A [nvenion H 551%; Arfforney 3 9,1954 w. A. BARKER APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRANSFER DESIGNS UPON POTTERYBLANK-S Filed Aug. 5, 1950 l5 Sheets-Sheet 9 Inventor Wi Z Z llG/I'TL A.Bar/ 62" Feb. 9, 1954 w, BARKER 2,668,384

APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRANSFER DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLANKS Filed Aug.5, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet l0 Inventor Lv$ZZA1r7Lx4.Z3anker* Feb. 9, 1954w. A. BARKER APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRANSFER DESIGNS UPON POTTERYBLANKS Filed Aug. 5, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 11 [nven for William/L BarkerBy hi Afao g f I A H l a- F -f m Q 8% 3 Feb. 9, 1954 w R R 2,668,384

APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRAN R DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLANK Filed Aug. 5.1950 15 Sheets-Sheet l2 \Kw a h's qmme 12 630" 633 i Fbj ii; 1954 W. A.BARKER APPARATUS FOR IMFRESSING TRANSFER DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLANKS l5Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed Aug. 5. 1950 Inventor William A Barker Feb. 9,1954 w. A. BARKER 2,668,384

APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRAN ER DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLAN Filed Aug. 5,1950 15 Sheets-Sheet l4 5 his owe a fi z William ABar'ker Feb. 9, 1954w. A. BARKER 2,668,384

APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRANSFER DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLANKS l5Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Aug. 5. 1950 Inventor. M ham A. Barker PatentedFeb. 9, 1954 APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRANSFER DESIGNS UPON POTTERYBLANKS William Arthur Barker, Leicester, England, as-

signor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J acorporation of New Jersey Application August 5, 1950, Serial No. 177,813

Claims priority, application Great Britain September 1, 1949 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in ornamenting work piecesand more particularly to apparatus for impressing paint from a transferupon a pottery blank. The invention is illustrated in a machine of thetype shown in application for Letters Patent of the United States SerialNo. 66,111, filed December 18, 1948, in the name of N. V. Germany. Sucha machine includes a pair of flexible diaphragms which are preferablysubstantially impervious to air, these diaphragms being arranged tooperate on opposite sides of a pottery blank to apply pressure thereto.The diaphragms are carried by supports providing pressure chambers intowhich pressure fluid, such as air, is admitted when the supports are injuxtaposition to each other, but previous to admitting air into thechambers the air between the diaphragms is exhausted, thus permittingintimate contact of the diaphragms with the opposite sides of thepottery blank being operated upon.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved apparatusof the type referred to above which is so constructed as to require aminimum of skill and attention on the part of the operator.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a lower work supportingdiaphragm is carried by a stationary support, an upper diaphragm beingcarried by a support pivoted to a beam which is, in turn, pivoted abouta horizontal axis on the frame of the machine so that by rocking thebeam about its pivotal the upper diaphragm is moved toward or away fromthe Work carried by the lower diaphragm. In order to avoid damage to thediaphragms by admission of air pressure into the chambers and buildingup a pressure therein when the diaphragms are not in juxtaposition toeach other, and in accordance with a feature of the invention, thechambers formed by the upper and lower diaphragms and their supports areopen to the atmosphere when the upper support is in its upper positionso that if at this time air be admitted by malfunctioning of theapparatus, for example, into the chambers, it will merely exhaust to theatmosphere without distending the diaphragms; The openings by which thechambers have communication with the atmosphere when the upper supportis in inoperative position are so arrangedas to provide communicationbetween the lower and the upper chamhers and to cut 01? thecommunication with the atmosphere when the upper support is moveddownwardly into operative position with respect to the lower support.Consequently, air admitted into the lower support will pass through theaforementioned openings into the upper support, the openings being indirect communication, and of sufiicient size that the pressure willincrease in the two chambers at substantially the same rate.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, means is providedfor automatically causing the exhaust of air from the space between thediaphragms in response to the completion of the downward movement of theupper support and for admitting pressure fluid into the chambers apredetermined time thereafter to force the diaphragms against the work,the pressure being maintained for a predeterminedperiod of time afterwhich the pressure fluid isexhausted and the clutch re-engaged to raisethe upper support to carry its diaphragm out of contact with the Work,permitting removal of the Work from the machine. Thus all portions ofthe cycle of operation are automatic after the support has moveddownwardly and the length of time which elapses between the moment whenthe space between the diaphragms is first connected to a source ofsuction and the moment when pressure fluid is admitted to the chambersas well as the length of time the pressure is maintained is constant foreach cycle of operation of the machine, thus insuring uniformity of workdone by the machine and eliminating the necessity of the operator givingany attention to the operation of the machine at this time, thuspermitting him to load the other station of the machine. In accordancewith another feature of the invention, the lengths of the differentportions of the cycle are readily adjusted by the operator in accordancewith the requirements of the work being operated upon.

It is frequently desirable to spray water onto the lower diaphragm andonto a work piece thereon before the upper diaphragm is caused to engagethe upper surface of the work. In accordance with a still furtherfeature of the invention, operator controlled mechanism is provided forapplying to the diaphragm through a spray pipe a predetermined quantityof water, this water being stored under pressure by operation of themachine during the previous cycle of operations. Thus the quantity ofwater that may be sprayed onto the diaphragm is constant, furtherinsuring uniformity of quality of the work produced by the machine.

The above and other features of the invention, including novelcombinations of parts and details of construction, will now be describedby reference to the drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one form of machine in which theinvention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a right side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of the upper portion of the machine,this view being on a somewhat larger scale than Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through a valve controlling the waterspray;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the workengaging diaphragms andassociated structure;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of a portion of the structure shown in Fig.5, this section being taken at right angles to that of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a vertical section through the parts at the upper right handportion of Fig. 6 and on a larger scale;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a portion of the mechanism for locking thelower diaphragm supporting housing to the machine;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through a portion of the drive mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line X--X of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a section on the line XI-XI of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the mechanism shown at the left of Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a section on the line XIII-XIII of Fi 12;

Fig. 14 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a section on the line XV--XV of Fig. 9;

Fig. 16 is a section along the line XVIXVI of Fig. 9;

Fig. 17 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown at the right in Fig.9;

Fig. 18 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the operating mechanism ofthe machine;

Fig. 19 is a vertical section of a portion of the mechanism shown inFig. 18, this view being taken along the line XIX-XIX of Fig. 20;

Fig. 20 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 18;

Fig. 21 is a detail view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is a vertical section of a portion of the water spray controlmechanism;

Fig. 24 is a section along the line XXIVXXIV of Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 is a side elevation of a low pressure tank of the machine andthe mechanism associated therewith;

Fig. 26 is a front elevation of the tank shown in Fig. 25;

Fig. 27 is a section along the line XXVII- XXVII of Fig. 25;

Fig. 28 is a view similar to Fig. 2'7 but showing the parts in diiferentportions;

Fig. 29 is a detail view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 27;and

Fig. 30 is a front elevation of the belts and pulleys by which variousparts of the machine are driven.

The invention is illustrated herein as embodied in a two-station machinethe stations being of substantially identical constuction, like partsbein indicated by like referencecharacters. The stations of the machinear arranged for alternate operation so that when one station isoperating upon a work piece the completed work piece may be removed fromthe other station and a new work piece inserted therein to be operatedupon during the next cycle of operations of the machine.

The machine is shown to comprise a base I0 carried by which are housingsl2 providing supports [5 each of which carries a housing [6 the top ofwhich is closed by a diaphragm l8 (Figs. 5 and 6). The diaphragm I8 isof rubber or other suitable material substantially impervious to air andis clamped against an outwardly extending flange 20 of the housing [6.For this purpose the periphery of the diaphragm I8 is clamped. againstthe upper surface of the flange 20 by a clamping ring 22 and screws 2 3.An annular spacing rin 26 rests upon the outer portion of the diaphragml8, certain of the screws 24 having enlarged portions 28 which fit inholes in the ring 26 and assist in holding the clamping ring 22 inplace. These screws also have heads 30 to secure the spacing ring 26 tothe upper surface of the diaphragm. As shown in Fig. 6 the spacing ring26 is provided with a radial bore 32 passing therethrough andcommunicating with a pipe 34 for a purpose which will appearhereinafter.

Cooperating with the diaphragm {8 in pressing a transfer upon a workpiece is an upper diaphragm 36 which is stretched across an uppersupport 38 by a clamping ring 60 and screws 42. A pressure chamber 44 isformed within the housing it, the top of the chamber being closed by thelower diaphragm l8 and similarly a pressure chamber 46 is formed in thesupport 38 the bottom of this chamber being closed by the upperdiaphragm 36. With one of the stations of the machine in inoperativecondition the support 38 is elevated above the position shown in Figs. 5and 6 so that the diaphragms l8 and 36 are spaced sufficiently to permitinsertion of a work piece therebetween. The support 38 is then 10weredby mechanism to be described until it is positioned adjacent to butspaced from the diaphragm l8, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a work piecethen being confined in the space between the diaphragms. The pipe 34 isthen connected to a source of suction and the air is exhausted from thespace between the diaphragms whereupon they are drawn into intimatecontact with the work piece following which air under pressure isadmitted into the chambers 44, 48 to apply pressure through thediaphragms to the work, pressing the transfers against one or both facesof the work.

The support 38 by which the upper diaphragm 36 is carried is providedwith three equally spaced upwardly extending lugs 48, 58 and 52 (Figs. 1and 2). The lugs 48 and 52 are arranged to hook over pins 56 carried bya supporting bracket 55 having an upwardly extending lug 58 (Fig. 3)pivoted on a pin 60 carried by a forwardly and rearwardly extending beam62. The lug 50 has a bore for the reception of a pin 54 arranged to passthrough ears 58 depending from the bracket 56. The upper support 38 isthus firmly held by the supporting bracket 56 but by withdrawing the pin64 it may be readily removed and replaced by a support having adifferently shaped diaphragm. As shown in Fig. 6 the supporting bracket56 has a surface 68 formed as part of a sphere which cooperates with acorrespondingly shaped member 'If] carried by a central portion of thesupport 38 and by means of which downward thrust of the bracket 56 isapplied to the support 38.

For moving the support 38 vertically to carry its diaphragm into and outof cooperative relation with the diaphragm on the housing I6 the beam 62is arranged for swinging movement as will now be described. As shown inFig. 3 a pin 12 is carried in bearings in the rearward portion (if thebeam 52 and is provided with a central eccentric portion 14 upon whichis pivoted one end of a link 16 the other end of which is pivoted on apin 18 carried by a post 80 secured to and extending upwardly from thehousing I2. The beam is U-shaped in cross section and straddles theupper end of the post 89. The pin 12 with the eccentric portion 14provides means for adjusting the heightwise position of the rearward endof the beam 62. Carried by and secured to the pin 12 is a sector 82having an arcuate slot 84 through which passes a locking screw 86threaded into the beam 62 for locking the shaft in the desired position.A link 85 connected between a pin 90 carried by the beam and a pin 92 onthe post 8! cooperates with the link 18 to guide the beam in its up anddown movement.

For moving the beam up and down a link 94 is pivotally connected to thebeam by a pin 95 the lower end of the link being formed with a strap 98encircling an eccentric use keyed to a shaft I62 journaled in bracketsI94, I96 (Figs. 18 and 19) depending from the upper portion of thehousing I2. The shaft I52 has secured to one end thereof a worm gear Hi8meshing with a worm II 0 secured to a shaft H2 extending forwardly andrearwardly of the machine and rotatably mounted in bearings in thebracket EM. Also carried by the bracket I84. is a housing II i (Fig. 20)for a clutch I15 into which the shaft II2 extends. The clutch H6 is ofany suitable construction and is preferably of the type having a swashring having a projecting dog H8, the arrangement being such that whenthe dog H8 is held in the position shown in Fig. 20 by a shoulder I29 ona lever 122 pivoted on a pin IZQ carried by the housing H4, the clutchis disengaged and a plate I is held in engagement with a stationarybrake surface I28, but upon'release of the dog IIS by counterclockwisemovement of the lever I22 in a manner to be described, the plate I26moves to the right under the action of a spring (not shown) intoengagement with a drive pulley I 30 whereupon the shaft [I2 is driven.The details of construction of the clutch H6 form no part of the presentinvention and accordingly are not disclosed herein. The pulley I so ismounted upon the shaft I I2 for. free rotation relative thereto and iscontinuously driven by a belt as will be described.

Swinging of the lever !22 in a counterclockwise direction to causerotation of the shaft H2 and downward movement of the beam 62 iseffected by a pair of handles I32, I34 (Fig. 1) by mechanism to bedescribed, the arrangement being such that the handles must besimultaneously operated to cause downward movement of the beam and mustbe held in operative position until the upper work engaging diaphragm isadjacent to the lower diaphragm thus eliminating danger of a hand of theoperator being caught between the diaphragms and injured.

The handle I34 (Fig. 9) is secured to a rod I36 mounted for slidingmovement in, a sleeve I38 secured to and extending rearwardly from thefront wall of the housing I2. The rod I36 is provided with a radiallyextending pin I40 received in a slot I 42 in the sleeve I38 to preventrotary movement of the rod relatively to the sleeve. A spring I44 actingbetween a plate I46 secured to the front wall of the housing I2 and acollar I48 fixed to the rod I38 urges the handle rearwardly. The collarI48 has a transversely extending pin I 50 received by a forked portionI52 of the upper end of a lever I54, the lower end of which is pivotedupon a pin I58 (Fig. 14) carried by a lug I58 depending from a controlbox I60 carried by the housing I2. A collar I62 (Fig. 9) forming part ofthe handle I34 cooperates with the plate I45 to determine the rearwardposition of the handle.

' Carried by the lever I54 intermediate its ends is a transverselyextending pin I64 (Figs. 9 and 14) having a head I66 providing a bearingfor a vertically extending pin I68 carried by the forked right end ill)of a lever I12. The other end of the lever I12 is similarly connected tothe handle I32. The lever I12 is pivoted upon a vertical pin I14 fixedin a forked end portion of an arm I16 pivoted upon a vertical pin I18secured to the control box ISQ. It will be understood that the lever I12will be moved forwardly upon forward movement of the handles I32, I34 bythe rocking movements imparted to the vertically extending levers I54.Because the lever I12 is carried by the pivoted arm I16 this arm will bemoved in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 12 in response to themovement of the lever I12 by the handles, the extent of movement of thelever I12 and of the arm I16 depending upon whether or not both handlesare moved forwardly. Stop screws I cooperate with the lever I12 to limitthe forward movement thereof. It will be understood that if only one ofthe handle is moved forwardly only one end of the lever I12 will moveand consequently the arm I16 will not be moved as far as if both handleswere moved. To cause engagement of the clutch H6 (Fig. 20) byconnections to be described it is necessary that maximum movement beimparted through the handles, the lever I12 (Fig. 12) and the arm I16.

ecured to the arm I16 is a face plate I82 engageable with the outer endof a curved arm I84 secured to a vertical pivot pin I86 in a bearing I88in the control box I66. To the lower end of the pin I 86 is secured aforked arm I90 the arms I86, I98 being urged in a clockwise direction,as viewed in Fig. 12, by a tension spring I92 connected between a hookI84 in a pin I95 on an arm I96 integral with the arm I99 and a hooksecured to the control box I56, the spring normally holding the arm I 34in engagement with the plate I82.

Between the bifurcations of the arm I30 is pivoted on a vertical pinIts, a pawl 26!! urged clockwise about the pin by a compression spring252 seated in a recess in a boss 2% in the arm I90 and engaging a tail2% of the pawl. The pawl is thus normally held by the spring in aposition in which a corner plate 298 formed on a slide block 2H) lieswithin a recess in the pawl 2136 as shown in Fig. 12. The slide block2H1 is mounted for forward and rearward sliding movement in a guidewayin the control box I60 and is urged rearwardly by a compression spring2I2 (Fig. 13) lying in a bore 214 in the block 210 the forward end ofthe spring engaging a plunger 2I6 arranged for sliding movement in thebore 2 I4 and abutting a cover plate 2I8 of the box Ifit. The slideblock ZIB is normally urged. by the spring ZiZ rearwardly into aposition determined by the engagement of a stop screw 220 threadedthrough a lug 222 of the slide block with a lug 224 of the box I60.

The slide block 2I0 projects rearwardly from the control box as shown inFig. 12 and has a slot in which i received a transverse pin 226 carriedby bifurcations 220 of a rod 238, the bifurcations straddling therearward end of the slide block H0. The pin 228 and the slot in theslide block provide a lost motion connection between the slide block 2mand the rod 230. The rod 230 extends rearwardly and is pivoted at itsrearward end to an arm 232 (Fig. 20) of a lever 232, 234 pivoted on apin 233 (Fig. 21) which is carried by spaced portions 238, 240 (Fig. 18)of a plate 242 fixed to a pin 244 mounted in bearings in the bracketI04. Also fixed to the pin 244 is an arm 240 (Fig. 21) carrying a camroll 248 engageable with a cam 250 secured to the gear I08, the roll 248being held in engagement with the cam by a tension spring 252 one end ofwhich is connected to the arm 245 and the other end to the bracket I04.The upper end of the lever 232, 234 is connected by a link 254 to an arm253 of a lever pivoted on a pin 253 fixed in the bracket I04. A secondarm 250 of this lever overhangs an end of the lever I22 and carries anadjustable stop screw 202 engageable with the lever I22. A tensionspring 264 urges the lever I22 in a clockwise direction as viewed inFig. 20 into engagement with the stop screw 262.

It will be understood that when the handles I32, I34 (Fig. l) are pulledforwardly to move the lever I12 (Fig. 12) into its forward position inengagement with the stop screws I80 the pawl 208 moves the slide block2I8 forwardly against the action of spring 2I2, pulling the rod 230forwardly causing clockwise movement of the lever 232, 234 (Fig. 20)which turns the lever 258, 250 in clockwise direction moving the leverI22 in a counterclockwise direction out of engagement with the dog I83thus permitting engagement of the clutch H6. As heretofore explained, ifonly one of the handles I32, I34 is pulled forwardly the arm I10 is notmoved into its forwardmost position and the forward movement of the rodis insufficient to move the lever 22 out of a locking engagement withthe dog H8 and the clutch is not permitted to engage. Assuming that theoperator moves both hands forwardly to permit engagement of the clutchand then releases his hand from one of the handles the lever I22 willmove back into a position to drop behind the dog H8 and causedisengagement of the clutch after it has completed a revolution thusinterrupting rotation of the worm H and downward movement or the beam62, carrying the upper diaphragm. Thus if the operator releases his gripon either of the handles prior to the time that the upper diaphragm hasmoved downwardly into operative relation to the work, downward motion ofthe beam will be arrested by disengagement of the clutch at thecompletion of that revolution thereof during which time the operator hareleased his grip on either of the control handles. After a sufiicientnumber of revolutions of the shaft I I2, at which time the beam hasdescended sufficiently to carry the upper diaphragm into work-engagingposition, the cam roll 248 enters a depression 285 in the earn 250whereupon the arm 242 and pin 236 supporting the lever 232, 234 areswung forwardly by the spring 252 into a position such that even thoughthe handles I32, I34 are held in their forward position the lever I22 ispermitted to swing clockwise into the position shown in Fig. 20 to causedisengagement of the clutch with the beam in its lowermost position.

For maintaining the support 38 for the upper diaphragm (Fig. 3) inhorizontal position during operation of the beam 02 to lower the support38 a link 268 is pivotally connected at one end at 210 to the link 88and at its other end by a pin 212 to the lug 58 of the supportingbracket 56. The arrangement is such that the diaphragm carried by thesupport 38 is maintained in a substantially horizontal position duringvertical movements of the support by operation of the beam 62. Thepressure of the support 38 against the spacer ring 26 is controlled byrotation of the shaft 12 with the eccentric portion 14 by loosening thescrew 36 and turning the sector 82 as heretofore described.

When the upper diaphragm support has been moved into its lowermostposition air is exhaused from the space between the diaphragms byconnecting the pipe 34 to a source of suction. For" this purpose a dog214 (Figs. 18, 20 and 25) carried by the eccentric strap 38 engages acam plate 210 carried by one end of a lever 218 pivoted at 280 to a lugof the bracket I04. The lever 218 is urged by a spring 282 into theposition shown in Fig. 20 in which a stop screw 284 carried therewithengages the bracket I04. As the shaft I02 comes to rest at thecompletion of a half revolution the dog 214 acting through the plate 216moves the lever 218 in a clockwise direction against the action of thespring 282 thus moving a rod 280 connected at 288 to the lever 218 tothe right as viewed in Fig. 25. The forward end of the rod 283 ispivoted at 230 to one end of a lever 292 pivoted at 294 upon a controlbox 203. The other end of the lever 292 overlies a stem 298 of a valve300. This valve controls communication between a pipe 302 whichcommunicates with a tank 304 and a pipe 306 which communicates with thepipe 34, the valve 298 being open and establishing communication betweenthe tank 304 and the pipe 34 when the valve stem 208 is depressed.Sub-atmospheric pressure is maintained within the tank 304 by a pump 305(Fig. 2) driven by a pulley 301, the low pressure side of the pump beingconnected to the tank by a pipe 309 (Fig. 25). It will thus be seen thatupon movement of the upper diaphragm support into its operative positionthe valve 300 is'opened and air is exhausted from the space between thediaphragms.

Following this, air under pressure is admitted into the chambers 44, 46(Fig. 5) and the air is subsequently permitted to exhaust from thechambers and the upper diaphragm suport 38 is elevated. The severalsteps in the operation of the machine take place automatically at theconclusion of predetermined intervals measured-from the time at whichthe shaft I I2 comes to rest as determined by the settings of dials 303,308 (Figs. 1 and 11), as will be hereinafter described.

Mounted for rotation in bearings in the box 206 (Figs. 9 and 15) is aforwardly and rearwardly extending shaft 3 [0, the rearward end of whichcarries a pulley 3 I 2 by which it is continually connected to a sourceof power while the machine is in use. The shaft 310 carries an eccentric3M (Fig. 15) surrounded by an eccentric strap 3 I 6 an extension ofwhich is pivotally connected at 3I8 to a lever 320. This lever comprisesspaced arms 322, 324 (Fig. 9) which are mounted for swinging movementabout the same axis, the arm 322 being.

pivoted upon a bushing 328 carried by the box 293 and the am 324 beingpivoted upon a shaft 328 within the bushing 326 and projecting forwardlyand rearwardly thereof. Between the arms 322, 324 is a ratchet wheel 338splined to the shaft 328 with which cooperates a driving pawl 332pivoted upon an enlarged portion of a pin 334 (Fig. which passes throughthe arms 322, 324 to maintain them in spaced relation, the pin beingthreaded to receive nuts 336.

Rotation of the ratchet wheel 338 in a clockwise direction as viewed inFig. 15 is prevented by a pawl 338 pivoted on a stud 348 in the controlbox 296 and urged into engagement with the ratchet 338 by a spring 342.The pawl 332 is urged in a counterclockwise direction about the pin 336by a tension spring 344 and if permitted to engage the teeth of theratchet wheel 338 the wheel will be driven step by step in acounterclockwise direction upon rotation of the shaft 318 by the rockingmovement imparted to the lever 320. However, when the upper diaphragmsupport is in an elevated position the pawl 332 is maintained out ofcontact with the wheel 338 by engagement of a face plate 346 with a roll348 carried by a tail of the pawl 332 so that the pawl swings to and froidly. The face plate 346 is fixed to one arm of a lever 358 pivoted at352 within the box 296. The lever 358 carries a cam roll 354 (Fig. 17)maintained by a spring 356 in engagement with the periphery of a cam358. This cam is secured to a transversely extending shaft 368 journaledin bearings in the box 296. Fixed to the shaft 368 is an arm 362 towhich is pivotally connected at 364 a rod 366. Slidably mounted upon therod is a turn block 368 pivotally mounted at 318 in a bifurcated endportion 312 of an arm 314, the block 368 being engaged at one side by anut 316 and at the other side by a compression spring 318 surroundingthe rod 368 between the block and the lower headed portion of the rod.The arm 314 is pivoted upon a stud 388 and is integral with an arm 382(Fig. 9). The arm 382 is pivoted at 384 to one end of a link 386, theother end of which is pivoted at 388 to a lug 398 upon the eccentricstrap 98 (Fig. 3).

The shaft 328 is normally locked against rotation in either direction bymechanism which will now be described. Secured to the rearward end ofthe shaft 328 is a bevel gear 392 (Fig. 9) which meshes with a bevelgear 394 rotatable on the shaft 368 (Fig. 16). Secured to the gear 394is a ratchet plate 396 provided with a set of notches 398 spaced 90apart to receive in any one of four diiferent positions of the ratchetplate a pawl 488 normally urged by a spring 482 into locking position toprevent clockwise movement of the plate 396. The pawl 489 is pivoted ona plate 399 fast with the cam 358. A stop block 484 is received by oneof a second set of recesses 486 in the plate 396 when the beam carryingthe upper diaphragm is not in its lower position to preventcounterclockwise movement of the plate 4 396 and with it the bevel gear394 (Fig. 9). The stop block 484 is carried at the lower end of an arm488 (Fig. 17) pivoted at M8 to a bracket 412 integral with the controlbox 296. A cam roll 414 carried by the arm 488 cooperates with the cam353, the spring 356 acting to maintain the roll M4 in engagement withthe periphery of the cam. With the beam in its upper position the cam358 is located 90 counterclockwise from the position illustrated in Fig.17, the roll 414 being in engagement with the lower portion of the camand the stop block 494 seated in the yrecess 486 thus locking theratchet plate 396 against rotation and through the gears 394, 392

10 (Fig. 9) locking the shaft 328 against rotation. However, when thebeam is moved downwardly the parts assume the positions shown in Fig.17, the face plate 346 (Figs. 9 and15) being moved downwardly to permitengagement of the pawl 332 with the ratchet 338 and the stop block 484(Fig. 17) being withdrawn to permit counterclockwise movement of theplate 396 and turning movement of the shaft 328 in a step-by-step manherin response to movements of the pawl 332 (Fig. 15) by the constantlydriven shaft 3).

The dials 386, 388 move With the shaft 328 and control, in accordancewith their settings, the interval between the opening of valve 388 (Fig.25) to exhaust the air from between th diaphragms and the time at whichair under pressure is admitted into the chambers behind the diaphragmsas well as the interval between the admission of air under pressure intothe chambers and exhaust of the air therefrom, as will appear as thedescription proceeds.

The dial 388 carries a cam roll 4l6 (Fig. 14) which rotates with thedial and after a predetermined period in the rotation of the shaft 328(Fig. 9) acts upon one end of an arm M8 to turn it in a clockwisedirection thus causing opening of a valve 428 to admit air underpressure to the chambers behind the diaphragms. The arm M8 is fixed to ashaft 422 mounted in bearings in the control box 168 and also fixed tothe shaft 422 is an arm 424 connected by a link426 to one arm of a bellcrank lever 428 pivoted at 438 on the box N58. The other arm of the bellcrank lever 428 carries a roll 432 engageable with an arm 434 pivotedat436 on the housing of valve 428. The arm 434 overlies a valv stem 438the arrangement being such that clockwise movement of the arm M3 by thecam roll 4|6 causes downward movement of the valve stem 438 andadmission of air under pressure into the spaces behind the diaphragms.The bell crank lever 428 is moved in a counterclockwise direction inopening the valve 428 and the roll 432 enters a depression 448 in thearm 434 thus locking the valve stem .438 in its down position againstthe action of a spring causing the valve to remain open after the camroll 416 passes the end of arm 418.

For returning the bell crank 428 to the position shown in Fig. 14 aftera predetermined time to permit closure of valve 428 the dial 386 carriesa cam roll 442 which moves into engagement with an arm 444 fixed to theshaft 422 to turn the shaft in a counterclockwis direction and returnthe parts to the position illustrated. A second cam roll 446 is carriedby the dial 386 causing tripping of the clutch H6 a second time to causelifting of the beam 62 as will be hereinafter explained.

The setting of the dial 388 with respect to the shaft 328 determines theextent of rotation required of the shaft 328 before the valve 428 isopened and hence determines the length of time which elapses from theconnection of the space between the diaphragms to the suction tank andthe time that pressure is admitted behind the diaphragms. A sleeve 448(Fig. 9) is mounted for rotation in a bearing 458, the sleeve 448providing a bearing for a sleeve portion 452 of the dial 388. Theforward portion of the dial 388 is in the form of a cylinder 454 and hasattached to it a plate 456 carrying the cam roll M6. The sleeve portion452 of the dial 386 is urged forwardly by a compression spring 458surrounding the forward end of the shaft 328 and engag-

